Under the direction of Commissioner Hon. Ogbeide Ifaluyi Isibor, the Edo State Ministry of Digital Economy, Science, and Technology has teamed up with the international blockchain startup Intmax and the Texas-based cybersecurity training company Summit Systems ISSP to provide top government officials from various state ministries with cybersecurity and blockchain training.
BrandSpur digital news platform reports that this project provided insightful information about blockchain, tokenisation, and cybersecurity and was led by Simeon Nofa Ogunnubi, CEO of Pengage Finance.
Held on August 26, 2024, at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy in Benin, the one-day capacity-building workshop featured lectures and keynote addresses from representatives of the participating companies. Adopting emerging technology in the public sector is crucial, as highlighted by Hon. Ifaluyi Isibor.
She highlighted Edo State’s accomplishment as the first sub-national body in Sub-Saharan Africa to fully deploy e-governance and establish a paperless administration.
In his talk, “Blockchain Simplified for the Public Sector,” Simeon Nofa Ogunnubi examined the Nigerian National Blockchain Policy, which attempts to promote innovation, financial inclusion, job creation, and talent development. He also discussed the applicability of blockchain technology to government processes.
Philip Asaya, Country Head of Intmax, spoke on “Intmax Blockchain and the Public Sector in Nigeria,” emphasising the company’s dedication to offering state-of-the-art infrastructure and solutions.
Chief Strategy Officer of Intmax Sven Moella virtually joined from Switzerland to talk about tokenising real-world assets, while Intmax representatives Glory Praise and Emmanuel Asabor showcased the company’s role in transforming the public sector.
Topics related to cybersecurity that were covered by Summit Systems ISSP included governance, risk and compliance, threat detection, and infrastructure and digital asset protection techniques.
Senior officials, decision-makers, and technical personnel in Edo State ministries were to be empowered by this program to use cutting-edge technology for digital transformation and economic development. Participants gained the skills necessary to successfully apply and manage these technologies by the end of the program, spurring innovation and improving government efficiency.
The signature of an agreement between Intmax and the Ministry of Digital Economy, Science, and Technology was one of the workshop’s main highlights. Through this partnership, Intmax will be able to collaborate closely with the Edo State Government and create a strong presence in several government ministries.
The partnership aims to increase Edo State’s ability to use cutting-edge technology for better governance and service delivery by strengthening the state’s digital ecosystem.
For those involved in the digital economy, including government officials, civil servants, technologists, and blockchain developers, this partnership is very important.
The partnership between Edo State and Intmax establishes a new benchmark for digital transformation, inspiring other areas to do the same. Edo State’s collaboration with Intmax highlights the state’s dedication to fostering blockchain innovation, even in the face of legislative constraints that have caused other cryptocurrency projects to withdraw from the Nigerian market.
The government acknowledges that blockchain technology can improve the efficiency and openness of how government services are administered.
“We look forward to working with Intmax to develop practical solutions that will enhance Edo State’s ability to deliver key services. This partnership gives us access to a secure and low-cost network that can be used for everything from payments to record-keeping, and we are confident that our collaboration will yield tangible results while demonstrating Nigeria’s openness to blockchain technology,” according to Honourable Ifaluyi Isibor.
